General: California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) are large, round, barrel-shaped cactus with ribs (flutes) running from bottom to top. Barrel cactus start out short and wide (globular), then grow to about 5-ft tall and 16 inches in diameter. The plants are covered with relatively long, stout, flattened spines. The spines are erect and spreading, the longest are recurved, and they have some red color. Yellow flowers form a ring around the top of the stem. Barrels are generally uncommon cactus of rocky hillsides, but they can be locally common.

Flowers: Blooms in late spring and early summer. Inflorescence: single flowers near the top of the stem, forming a ring around the top. Flowers: all parts yellow, about 1-1/2 inches diameter.

Fruit: Fleshy yellow fruit that dries to brown.

Seeds: Black, many contained in each fruit.

Dried barrel cactus fruit

Habitat: Most common in rocky areas and on cliffs, also found on bajadas.

Distribution: California to Utah, and south into Mexico.

Elevation: To about 4,500 ft.

Comments: Desert rodents and birds eat the fruits.

People often think that they can hack into a barrel cactus and get good drinking water. This is not true. While there is moisture inside the cactus, the effort needed to hack in and get the bitter liquid is not worth it.